Ash tray



T. A. MARTIN April 1, 1952 ASH TRAY Filed July 28, 1947 :INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 1, 1952 ASH TRAY Thomas A..Martin, Knoxville-Tenn; E. H. Marsh, trustee, assignor to Chester Bryant, Knoxville,

Tenn.

Application July 28, 1947, Serial No. 764,203

4. Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ash trays, particularly adapted for receiving and holding cigarettes and other smoking articles.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of ash trays for this purpose, especially for holding cigarettes, and to insure the confinement of the cigarettes to the interior of the tray, even when these are substantially entirely consumed.

This object may be accomplished, in one embodiment of the invention, by constructing the ash tray with receptacles for cigarettes and other smoking articles that will hold these articles inclined downwardly toward the center of the ash tray internally thereof, without serious danger that the consumption of the cigarette will allow this to fall-outside the tray where burning may result of articles of furniture. It is recognized that cigarettes continue to burn when laid down; and frequently are entirely consumed. An ash tray constructed in accordance with this invention, having downwardly inclined receptacles, will cause the cigarette to be directed into the tray, as the consumption thereof increases.

The tray is formed preferably of a dish-shaped shell having means for supporting a rack therein, upon which the cigarettes and other smokin articles may be laid and rest. This construction simplifies the device, enabling it to be manufactured at low cost. and the removability of "the rack makes it easy to clean by the removal of the ashes and other foreign substances therefrom. Moreover, the rack maybe constructed with downwardly inclined depressions to insure holding the cigarettes and to direct the parts thereof into the shell as these are consumed.

This embodiment of the invention, together with modifications thereof, areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ash tray;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the rack detached therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a detail cross section of the match support;

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the ash tray on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.3

Fig. 5 is a central cross section, showing a portion of a modified form of rim; and

Fig. 6 is a similar View to Fig. 5 showing a ther modified form of rim.

The ash tray, in the form shown in the drawings, is constructed preferably of two main parts designated generally by the numerals l and 2. These parts are adapted to be formed of any suitable materials, such as stamped metal, plastic,

2 glass, or any combination o'f'these materials, that may be fashioned or fabricated to provide the desired structure. The parts I and 2 are detachably associated for separation of the part 2 from the part I.

The part I, preferably is in the shape of a dish-shaped shell, having the cross section shown in Figs. 4 to 6, with substantially a fiat bottom and upstanding sides thereof. Supported at intervals on the bottom of the shell I, are upstanding studs or supports 3, each of which is shouldered as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to interfitwith notches 4, in the periphery of the rack '2. The studs 3, thereby form a support for the rack 2,

detachably mounting the latter within the shell l and permitting its removal for cleaning of the parts. The rack 2 may be formed of a single sheet of material stamped out, if desired, to provide the required size and shape.

Spaced at intervals circumferentially of the rack 22, which latter is of annular form, are corrugations forming recesses, depressions or supports 5, formed in the material of the rack, each of substantially channel shape and downwardly inclined toward the-center of the ash tray, as will be evident from Figs. '2 and 4. These recesses, depressions or supports 5 are'adapted to receive cigarettes therein, as generally indicated at C. although other smoking articles may be placed therein, if desired. The downward inclinationof the depressions 5, insures that the ash and ipor-.

tions of the cigarette will be retained at alltimes within the shell 1, because the construction does not permit the ash and portions of the cigarette to fallout-side of the shell. Moreover, the rack 2 is mounted as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, at a point spaced below the upstanding rim of the "shell, which relation tends further to keep theash and cigarettes confined within the tray and tends to remove the danger of their falling outsidethereof.

The rack 2 may be provided also with means for supporting matches thereon, which are customarily provided on ash trays. I have shown provision for holding a package of matches, for which purpose a loop 6 is secured to the rack 2 between a pair of depressions 5 and in cooperating relation with a clip I, that is formed out of the sheet of the rack. This permits the package of matches M, to be retained in place substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, with one end thereof.

. inserted under the clip 1, while the cover of the book of matches is slipped through the loop 6.

The upstanding rim on the shell I may be turned upward plain, as shown in Fig. 4, or provided with an out-turned edge which forms a stand for the ash tray, as indicated at 8, in Fig. 5. This edge may be provided as a further modification, with an inturned portion, as indicated at 9 in Fig. 6, whichever form is desired.

The use of the ash tray will be evident from the foregoing description. Cigarettes or other smoking articles, as indicated generally at C, may be laid in the depressions 5 with the burning end toward the open center of the ash tray inwardly of the inner edge of the annular rack 2. If not moved, these cigarettes will continue to burn, but even if they are completely consumed, they are so supported according to this construction that neither the ash nor any of the cigarette can fall outside of the ash tray. The outer periphery of the rack 2 is supported in spaced relation from the surrounding rim of the shell I, and the rack is supported below the upper edge of the rim, so that the cigarette supported on the rack will be confined entirely inside the shell without danger of falling outside thereof, where burning would result to articles of furniture or anything else.

The construction is simple and inexpensive and not only is it effective for holding the cigarettes, but it lends itself to being cleaned readily by the separation of the rack from the shell I, and the supports or studs provided in the shell for this purpose.

The upper surface of the rack 2, as well as the rim 8 or 9 of the shell I, may be used for advertising purposes, by printing or otherwise depicting the desired material thereon.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein, without departing from the invention, except as specified in the claims.

I claim:

1. A rest for a smoking article comprising a plate having portions thereof corrugated, other portions slotted and one of the portions provided with a struck-out lug and a band surrounding that portion adjacent the lug, the corrugationsproviding recesses for the reception of a smoking article, the lug and band constituting a holding means for a lighting implement, and the slots constituting guiding means to locate the rest 7 guiding means to locate the rest with relation to a supporting means, portions of the plate providing the corrugations being inclined from their outer edge inwardly and radially whereby smoking articles seated in the recesses will not contact the lighting implement carried by the holding means.

3. A rest for a smoking article comprising a plate having portions thereof corrugated, one of the portions provided with a struck-out lug and a band surrounding that portion adjacent the lug, the corrugation portions providing recesses for the reception of a smoking article, the lug and band constituting a holding means for a lighting implement, the portion of the plate providing the corrugations being inclined from its outer edge inwardly and radially whereby smoking articles seated in the recesses will not contact the lighting implement held by the lug and band.

4. A rest for a smoking article comprising a plate having portions thereof corrugated, one of the portions provided withholding means for a lighting implement, the corrugation portions providing recesses for the reception of a smoking article, the portion of the plate providing the corrugations being inclined from its outer edge inwardly and radially whereby smoking articles seated in the recesses will not contact the lighting implement carried by the holding means therefor.

THOMAS A. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 127,306 Pearce May 20, 1941' 320,938 Knowlton June 30, 1885' 887,560 White May 12, 1908 904,469 Anderson Nov. 1'7, 1908 1,029,467 Schaffert June 11, 1912 1,509,999 Girsch Sept. 30, 1924 1,571,003 Genaille Jan. 26, 1926 1,681,250 Neahr Aug. 21, 1928 1,717,320 Victor June 11, 1929 1,737,782 Wolf Dec. 3, 1929 1,813,467 Smith l July 7, 1931 1,886,434 Valentine Nov. 8, 1932 1,964,388 Simpson June 26, 1934 1,988,362 Quackenbush Jan. 15, 1935 2,092,743 I-Iirner Sept. 14, 1937 2,199,205 Litschgi Apr. 30, 1940 2,341,136 Brittingham Feb. 8, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 265,406 Great Britain Feb. 10, 1927 

